QNI News Release

London-based community nursing charity the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) today responded to claims made by nurse academics in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine that NHS care would be better if more nurses had degrees.

Rosemary Cook, Director of the QNI said: “High standards of nursing care are important, both in hospital and in the patient’s home, GP surgery and clinic. But ensuring high standards requires more just than a degree, and depends on more than just nurses’ initial education. It needs a career-long commitment by every nurse to continually challenge themselves and the people around them to ensure that standards are maintained. “

The role of the QNI for the last 120 years has been to help community nurses maintain a focus on quality and improvement in nursing care. This year the Institute re-introduced the title of Queen’s Nurse, after an absence of nearly 40 years, as another way to do that. Nurses are awarded the title not only by demonstrating that they are committed to maintaining high standards of care, but also, just as importantly, a high degree of trust and respect from their patients. Once they have the title, they join a network of Queen’s Nurses which is focused specifically on continuing to maintain and improve standards. They are also expected to act as role models for other nurses in improving care.

“With this new programme of Queen’s Nurses, and our project funding and professional development awards, now in their 17th year, we have every reason to believe that standards of care in the community are in very safe hands,” added Ms Cook.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute, a registered charity (number213128) champions and supports community nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We promote best practice and innovation in primary care by providing professional and financial assistance for community nursing projects. By our commitment to welfare, we help maintain the independence and dignity of community nurses in need.

Writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (February 2007), Professors Linda Shields and Roger Watson, argue nursing is under threat and being replaced by technicians, minimally educated healthcare assistants and unqualified health workers.